Economics: Media Articles

Chapter 2 Media Article

"Demand, delays affecting supply of flu vaccine" West Central Tribune, November 12, 2005

Flu vaccinations for this flu season will be in short supply in the comming days. So people who have been putting off getting their flu shot may be out of luck soon. However top priority for these vaccines go to the people at most risk. "These include the elderly, pregnant women, very young children and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes." Approximately 10 million new shipments of the flu vaccine will be distrubuted in the U.S.

The delayed shipment of vaccines, caused a Family Practical Medical Center to postpone one of their flu shot clinics. At each clinic, they administer approximately 2,220 vaccines. The demand for flu shots have gone up due to the recent bird flu, and it shows as there are no cases of the flu that have been confirmed in Minesota.

In relation to Ch. 2.

The flu vaccine can be seen as an inelastic object, if you are "Elderly, pregnant women, very young children and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes." These people have no other choice (substitute) but to get the flu shot or face being sick with the flu this winter season. The shortenned supply makes the vaccine more inelastic for those who need the vaccine the most. There are really no substitutes, other than not exposing yourself to the outside elements. The people listed earlier have weaker immune systems and even with constant hand washing, covering their mouth when they cough will not have a big impact on stopping them from getting the flu. The price of getting a vaccine is fairly inexpensive and would be worth getting if it can prevent you from feeling under the weather for X amount of days.

However the flu vaccine can be seen as an elastic object for those who are not highly at risk for getting the flu. Just washing their hands, covering their mouth when they cough is enough for them to not get sick. For them getting the shot would just be an extra precaution from getting sick, but not a necessity for them to get.

posted by Meghan @ 12:50 AM